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Tips to Safely Operate a Jib Crane

A crane with an operating arm that extends horizontally from its body is known as a jib crane. A jib crane is most commonly used in industrial premises and on military vehicles. In this type of crane, a jib or boom supports a moveable hoist fixed either to a wall or a floor-mounted pillar, making these cranes useful for lifting operations across multiple industries. Since a jib crane is used to lift and transport heavy objects, it is essential to follow safety precautions to prevent accidents.

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Although you get the safety manual from the crane manufacturer at the time of equipment installation, it is still crucial to know the basic safety guidelines to avoid situations that may put several lives at risk. For safe jib crane operation, three basic components are to be taken care of: a safe hoist, the right weight of the load, and a skilled operator. In addition to this, the crane must be in its best working condition with a solid footing. Below, we have listed some tips for Jib Crane safety to minimize injuries and provide a long life for your jib crane system.

• The crane’s correct installation is crucial to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the jib crane. Make sure to hire specialists to install your jib crane so that it is mounted securely and its foundation is capable of holding up the weight of the load.

• Ensure that the crane is certified, tested, and inspected before general use. The crane must be checked for any warning signs like structural defects, loosened bolts, cracked welds, or the jib’s arm’s faulty movement.

• It is imperative to conduct jib crane inspections on a regular 6-12 month basis by a professional crane inspector. The jib operator and owner should follow safety precautions to maintain crane in its best condition. You can prepare a written record of your crane, its hoist inspection and maintenance programs. This will help avoid chances of breakdown by ensuring that your equipment always meets the necessary safety requirements.

• Many times accidents occur due to overloading the crane. It is necessary to know the loading limit of your equipment to avoid overloading. Operators are often tempted to ignore safety measures and overload a crane to get the job done and go home. This must be avoided at any cost.

• Make sure that the travel path is clear before moving the load and/or jib arm. The lift’s stability should be tested by conducting a trial lift, ensuring that the slewing arm travels through an obstacle-free path.

Minimizing risks depends on a well-qualified, trained, and responsible operator who has sufficient years of experience and understanding of the workplace and the task at hand. The operators must have complete knowledge of the lifting devices’ safe load capacity, the method of rigging, and the center of gravity.

• For better safety, take a daily inspection of a crane by checking its operating mechanisms, deterioration, load hooks, hoist chains, functional operating mechanisms, etc.

In addition to all the above-mentioned tips, it is most crucial to follow the jib crane manufacturer’s instructions to increase everyday workplace safety for your operators. By following these tips, you are ready to safely run your jib crane.

Leah Leonard

Coffee expert. Troublemaker. Typical music guru. Friendly beer fanatic. Introvert. Web specialist. Uniquely-equipped for implementing bullwhips in Ocean City, NJ. Spent a year importing licorice in Hanford, CA. Have some experience licensing cigarettes for the government. Once had a dream of selling toy monkeys in Las Vegas, NV. Spent the 80's working on hula hoops in Minneapolis, MN. What gets me going now is working with action figures in the government sector.

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